Colleges face mounting fallout from uneven AI strategies: institutions buying subscriptions to large-model services aren’t ensuring students have access to the array of tools they need, and campus staff report confusion about institutional expectations for AI use. Analysis shows students shoulder a “hidden tax” when universities’ AI provisioning is partial or poorly coordinated; a separate workforce survey finds many university employees use AI yet lack clarity on policies and training. Those gaps affect teaching, assessment, accessibility, and equity: academic leaders must inventory tools, align procurement with pedagogy, and publish clear, enforceable AI-use policies to avoid disadvantaging students and overburdening staff.